Best Dressed Ladies' Competitions at the races

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I debated as to whether to post this in F&A or tLL, but decided to post it here because it's not really a 'fashion' question as such or looking for tips re. 'fashion' for the races; rather it's looking for ladies' opinions on this topic which was brought up in the Horse Racing forum here.

Anyway, a poster wrote the following:

I too brought my wife who dressed up in the hope of entering for best dressed ... knowing beforehand that it would no doubt be fixed again. Did they disappoint in this regard - no chance.

When we arrived about an hour and half before racing the photographers were busy taking loads of pictures of 2 or 3 ladies with one in particular getting extra attention. When the announcement came about the winner .. surprise surprise it was the lady getting the photo taken.

Her profile was a boutique owner in Portlaois. The day before's winner a boutique owner and wife of Michael Hourigan Jnr, earlier in week winner another women who's boyfriend was involved in racing. Another winner had her hat sponsored by a boutique!

Two years ago in the Curragh one of the judges - Celia Holman Lee - gave first prize to a girl who it transpired was one of her models in her agency!

This whole area is a disgrace - completely fixed. I feel sorry for all the genuine ladies who make a big effort to look good on the day. There are some big prizes here - I think the value was €20k in P'Town.

Not that it matters to me as I am there for the racing but I do think that it is another reason why ladies in particular are put off going racing. It also puts another stain on the racing industry.

What are your views on prizes being awarded to 'professionals' in these types of competitions?
Do you think it's right that they be allowed to advertise their businesses/boutiques while getting paid (by winning often a very exclusive prize) for doing so?
Would it put you off dressing up/splashing out on a new outfit for going to the races?
Would it put you off actually going to the races?
Any other comments/opinions welcome/appreciated.




Just to clarify: I'm not doing market research nor am I involved in any sponsors of best dressed ladies' competitions or with racecourses. It's just something I've thought about over the last number of years when I've seen the winning outfits, and when it was brought up in the HR forum I said I'd post here to see what other people's opinions are on it.

I also have permission from the poster to quote their post here.

NoDice

What are your views on prizes being awarded to 'professionals' in these types of competitions?
Do you think it's right that they be allowed to advertise their businesses/boutiques while getting paid (by winning often a very exclusive prize) for doing so?
Would it put you off dressing up/splashing out on a new outfit for going to the races?
Would it put you off actually going to the races?
Any other comments/opinions welcome/appreciated.

It completely puts me off wanting to go. I was looking through the paper the other day and saw all the outfits. Looked like a beautiful day and they're all in crazy spacecraft hats and gloves and blazers and man no I just wouldn't want to go.

I'd love to see the races but that whole extreme-fashion crap puts me off.

Sorry..

SeekUp

That in itself wouldn't put me off going to the races. I'm not sure how I feel about horse racing in general, but if I wanted to go, I wouldn't not go because of the rigged best-dressed competitions.

I wouldn't splash out for an entirely new outfit, either. But if I ever do go, I'm definitely wearing a fantastic hat.

shellyboo

I have to say (and I don't mean to be flippant) that I don't care. Wouldn't put me off going to the races, I wouldn't be going for the competition anyhow. Beyond that... meh.

sam34

i rarely go to the races, but if i did i'd be wearing jeans and flat comfortable shoes

i'd be going for the races themselves, not to pose and pout

i was chatting with a friend recently about a wedding i'm going to abroad, and i was wondering what to wear, how dressed up to get, not sure of whats considered wedding attire there.... my friend said "why dont you wear what you'd wear going to the races" and i was thinking "jeans? really?" !

fiona-f

I've been to about four or five ladies' days at different races over the years. Each time, it's been a bit of fun for my friends and I to get all dolled up and swan around for the day. I don't think any of us have ever gone with the intention of actually winning the prize - although we'd be thrilled if we did. Rather, it was to have the fun of maybe getting your picture snapped by a journalist or just generally enjoying ourselves. I didn't even realise til I read your post how substantial the prizes are. I think competitions like this, where the criteria are so massively subjective, that it would be very easy for it to be corrupted by a judge favouring a friend, etc and so it would be impossible to police to make it entirely fair.

Personally I've almost always been disappointed by the winners - usually it's someone in, say, an entirely green or beige outfit with hat, shoes and bag in exactly the same colour as the dress. Boring - anybody could do that. What I'd like to see win are the women who, for example, put togehter a few colours that no-one would ever think of wearing together, or who do something a bit fashion-forward.

Sadly, this country is so small that someone will always know someone and you could never find a completely unconnected judge for something as subjective as this.

LadyMayBelle

The Galway Races one is always rigged and I can tell you every year who will be in the local papers just because of who their daddy is..not being too bitchy but sadly the Galway Best dressed lady is laughable..photographers hang around the 'winner' ALL day, she is the one who gets interviewed on telly earlier in the day and gets pictured on the news even before the shortlist; it is a joke in Galway because people place bets on which shop the dress and hat will have been bought in (usually a new boutique the winner's aunt or cousin will have opened in the past year)

There are soem really stunning outfits every year but if you don't have the connections, bye bye.

Golly I'm in a ranty mood today!

NoDice

SeekUp wrote: »

That in itself wouldn't put me off going to the races. I'm not sure how I feel about horse racing in general, but if I wanted to go, I wouldn't not go because of the rigged best-dressed competitions.

I wouldn't splash out for an entirely new outfit, either. But if I ever do go, I'm definitely wearing a fantastic hat.

it isn't the comp that's put me off, I wouldn't enter that either. It's just how everyone would be dressed I'd feel uncomfortable in a t-shirt and wouldn't want to get a flashy outfit.

simu

It doesn't surprise me at all to hear that it's fixed; I've often thought that the best-dressed outfits in the papers were underwhelming, Celtic-Tigery ensembles rather than genuinely interesting style.

(It would be ok to have this sort of discussion on F&P too, btw, not that I'm trying to start a ratings war or anything!)

krudler

They all have lovely bottoms.

I go to race meetings regularly enough, we were at Ladys Day in Punchestown last year and was also at the Irish Grand National twice (most recent being 3 years ago I think). Lots of women who make a huge effort but also lots of ladies who clearly have not attempted to catch the eye of the judges but who are still having a great day. Loads of casually yet smartly dressed ladies at race meetings so don't let the Ladies Day muck put you off going.

helloitsme

I like go to ladies day for a bit of fun - some outstanding outfits on show! but I have to agree that it is rigged. I attended a meeting in Kerry last summer and the winner "happened" to make a hat for the judge at the last minute the night before. Don't get me wrong she looked lovely but like ye were saying there was far better there